Bolsonaro Tells STF Justices He Selected Kassio Nunes to Fill Supreme Court Seat

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to two news outlets, President Jair Bolsonaro told STF Justices that he has already chosen a name to fill Celso de Mello’s seat in the Court: Judge Kassio Nunes Marques of the Federal 1st Region Court of Appeals (TRF-1).

The choice, not yet officially confirmed, is said to have surprised the magistrates: Nunes was thoght to be a candidate for a seat in the STJ (Federal Superior Court), which will become vacant with the compulsory retirement of Judge Napoleão Nunes Maia in December.

Kassio Nunes told people close to him that Bolsonaro had said on Tuesday, September 29th, at the Planalto Palace: “It will be you”. The invitation was said to have surprised the judge.

After this, Bolsonaro took Kassio Nunes to the home of STF Justice Gilmar Mendes home, where they also met with Chief Justice Dias Toffoli and the federal Minister of Communications, Fabio Faria and Senate President Davi Alcolumbre.

The Justices were surprised: until then, the favorite for the position was Minister Jorge Oliveira, Secretary General of the Presidency. He had the support of Alcolumbre and Rodrigo Maia, Chamber president, and his potential nomination had already been considered by the Supreme Court.

Despite their surprise, the magistrates considered Kassio Nunes an excellent name for Celso de Mello’s post.

A detail and yet another surprise: the magistrate from Piauí is a Roman Catholic. Bolsonaro had previously pledged that he would appoint a “tremendously evangelical” judge to the STF.

The Judge joined the TRF-1 in 2011, chosen from among the candidates nominated by the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) seat. He was appointed by then president Dilma Rousseff.

He is considered by attorneys to be a balanced and accessible magistrate, who honors the defense. He is also a productive judge, with an average of 600 monthly rulings.

The announcement that the magistrate may be appointed was first made by Lauro Jardim, of O Globo newspaper, and confirmed by the Folha news outlet.

Nevertheless, it is being treated with caution in political and legal circles, since Bolsonaro has on more than one occasion retracted previously confirmed appointments.

Justice Celso de Mello, the Court doyen, has voluntarily signed as of October 13th, two weeks before his 75th birthday, when he would be forced to retire.

Source: Folhapress